EFFECT OF SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME ON PUPILS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN KANO STATE, NIGERIA (2014-2020)

Abstract

The Federal government of Nigeria started implementing SFP in Kano state in 2017 to address  the incidence of low academic performance, among many other factors, by boosting pupils’  nutritional status. This study therefore, sought to examine the implementation of SFP with the aim  of determining its effect on improving pupils’ academic performance in public primary schools in  Kano State. The hierarchy of needs theory by Abraham Maslow was used as a framework for the  study.  The study adopted mixed methods where questionnaire, interview and Focus Group  Discussion were used to have generated data. The quantitative, qualitative and the secondary data  were analysed using linear regression, thematic analysis and t-test statistics respectively. Findings  of the study showed that SFP has resulted in slight improvement in pupils’ academic performance.  The findings further showed lack of teaching and learning facilities like classrooms, furniture,  textbooks and notebooks. The study further found that the success of the programme was at the  risk of being destroyed owing to the restriction of the feeding progrmame to primary 1-3, high rate  of corruption among the implementing officials, insufficient budget for feeding each child and the  galloping price inflation in the country. The study therefore, recommended that in order to have a  sustainable and significant increase in pupils’ performance, government at all levels should keep  track of the increase in school popuplation and accompany it with a corresponding increase in all  necessary facilities. The federal government should also put in place and enforce sanctions against  corrupt officials in the programme to tackle the high rate of corruption reported in the programme.  Also, the budget for feeding each child should be increased reasonably. This would increase the  quality and quantity of the food, which in turn would increase and sustain pupils’ academic  performance.